Somewhere between making hard candies and watching Home Alone with my kids, I had a moment of clarity.

The house was a mess. – Powdered sugar everywhere
The to-do list was still way too long for my liking, and I was mentally replaying everything I hadn’t done perfectly that week.

And then it hit me:

“Well… I didn’t accidentally fly to Paris and leave my 8-year-old home alone — so I must be doing just fine.”

And honestly? That thought felt like a deep exhale.

The Holiday Pressure We Don’t Talk About

The holidays have a sneaky way of convincing us that we’re falling short.

We compare ourselves to:

• The perfectly curated traditions

• The parents who look endlessly patient

• The leaders who seem calm, cheerful, and completely unbothered

• The version of ourselves who definitely had more energy in November

Somehow, the season meant to bring joy turns into a quiet performance review in our own heads.

And when things feel chaotic, we assume we’re doing it wrong.

A Simple Reframe (That Doesn’t Require Meditation)

Here’s the thing: stress during the holidays doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It usually means you care.

Perspective is one of the most underrated wellness tools we have, not because it eliminates stress, but because it keeps stress from spiraling into self-criticism.

Sometimes, regulation doesn’t look like deep breathing or mindfulness apps.

Sometimes it looks like humor.
Sometimes it looks like context.
Sometimes it looks like remembering that things could be much worse.

For example…

A Very Unofficial Holiday Wellness Checklist

Let’s do a quick reality check:

• Did you show up for the people who matter? ✔

• Did you feed your kids (even if it was frozen pizza)? ✔

• Did you forget something, but adapt anyway? ✔

• Did you not leave a child home alone while boarding an international flight? ✔✔✔

That last one counts for a lot.

Why This Matters (Especially at Work)

This same mindset shows up in the workplace this time of year.

Leaders feel pressure to:

• Hold everything together

• Stay positive

• Finish strong

• Keep morale high while running on fumes

But resilience isn’t about being flawless; it’s about being human and functional at the same time.

When we stop interpreting stress as failure, we give ourselves (and others) room to recover, adapt, and move forward without burning out.

That shift from “I’m not enough” to “I’m doing the best I can with what I have” is powerful.

Or my personal favorite goes, “I am trying my best!”

A Little Christmas Permission Slip

If the holidays feel messy this year, here’s your reminder:

You don’t need perfect traditions.
You don’t need boundless patience.
You don’t need to hold it all together flawlessly.

You just need perspective.

And if all else fails
you didn’t leave your kid home alone.

That’s a win.